Six Top-Rated Holiday Side Dish Recipes

Tis the season for big, special dinners with family and loved ones! If you’re doing the cooking this year, it’s time to start planning the menu so you can make your (grocery) list and check it twice. Once you’ve figured out the main dish, it’s time to settle on some holiday side dish recipes to round out the meal. And let’s be honest: sometimes the sides are the best part.

These top-rated holiday side dish recipes from our test kitchen have top marks from users and will complement just about any main, from a show stopping crown roast to a traditional roasted turkey. Besides their good looks and great taste, we also love that many can also be prepped ahead, which is always a boon when it comes to the hectic holiday meal.

It’s hard to go wrong when bacon and brown sugar are involved, and the sweet and salty combo turns green beans into something magical. Indeed, these bundles hit all the marks: they’re easy to make, come together quickly, look impressive, and taste heavenly.

Scalloped potatoes are the ultimate side dish: rich and comforting yet elegant and impressive. This recipe, with Gruyere, leeks, and heavy cream doesn’t cut any corners and the result is a special and memorable side that is truly holiday-worthy. Pro tip: use a handy mandoline to quickly and safely cut perfectly even slices of potato in record time.

If you’re looking for something a little different than scalloped potatoes but in the same family, you may want to try this potato and celery root gratin instead. A little more rustic in its presentation, this gratin combines potato and celery root (also called celeriac) with Gruyere and Parmesan for a rich, flavor-packed side that will feed a crowd.

Whether you call it stuffing or dressing, this is a killer side that can be prepped ahead of time (the less to do on the big day the better!). With a combo of white and cornbread in addition to sausage, chestnuts, celery, and fresh herbs, this side has it all going on and packs a flavor punch. Use store bought cornbread or make your own (users seem partial to this cornbread recipe, but any will work).

We love roasted Brussels sprouts for any occasion, but pairing them with pancetta and syrupy balsamic makes them feel extra special. The sweetness of the balsamic vinegar is complemented by the salty pancetta, while the Brussels sprouts get slightly crispy while roasted. We dare you to eat just one.

This is one of our most popular potato recipes for good reason. While it’s hard to go wrong with mashed potatoes – they’re the ultimate comfort food – this recipe takes them to the next level by mixing them with cream that has been infused with garlic, shallot, thyme, and rosemary.